With the weekend coming up, there will be parties around the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. It is important to stay safe and be aware when planning to go out.
Agustin Champion, the education and outreach sergeant with University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department, shared a few tips when it comes to going out.
“One of the major things I’d say is make sure you have a plan and tell someone who’s not in your group what your plan is,” Champion said.
He also said he suggested staying with a main group of friends that you trust and that will hold each other accountable.
“A big thing is knowing what you’re drinking,” Champion said. “Especially the real fruity (drinks) that taste amazing — those can definitely be dangerous.”
These are other general safety tips Champion shared:
- designating a sober driver
- eating a heavy meal beforehand
- staying hydrated
- switching between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
Jon Gayer, the alcohol and drug educator for UNL, said one misconception students have about alcohol is that they think other students drink more than students actually do.
“Students choose not to drink, drink very slightly or drink in what I like to call social moderation; maybe two or three,” Gayer said. “The biggest thing that our students do is misperceive how their peers drink.”
Gayer also said he advised students to set their limits before going out.
“There's that point where you have this euphoria when you get to the point of drinking that you’re just having a good time, so you continue with drinking more and more but at that point you’ve reached a limit,” Gayer said.
Setting limits also includes a self-imposed curfew: “The golden rule is ‘Nothing ever good happens after midnight,’” Gayer said.
“A big thing I would say would be to make sure you charge your phone before you go out,” Champion said. “At the end of the night when you're trying to call a ride (or) you're trying to call a friend, you're not trying to find somewhere to plug in your phone as well.”
UNLPD recently instituted a new text line students can contact — whether on or off campus — if they need law enforcement present for any reason. This helps get law enforcement's attention when discretion is needed, according to Champion.
The number to text is 402-472-5552, and responders will understand any language. If any student’s first language isn’t English, they can still text this number and will get a response in their first language.
“Sometimes we get people who are afraid to call for medical help for people who have maybe drank too much, just because they’re afraid they are going to get in trouble as well,” Champion said.
It is common for students to believe they will get in trouble if they call the police. However, with the Good Samaritan Law, the caller and the person who needs medical attention will not get in trouble with the law in the case of underage drinking. The caller must remain on the scene until law enforcement arrives and cooperates with officials, according to Champion.
“The Good Samaritan Law is more about making sure that, if someone is sick or if someone needs medical attention, that we get to them as soon as possible,” Champion said.
Husker Safe Walk is also an option if a student wants to get from one place on campus to another and doesn’t feel safe. They can call UNLPD, and the department will send an officer to walk with them and make sure they get to their destination safely.
“We understand you’re going to make a lot of life leaps for that matter, but we want to make sure you have a parachute, know (what to do) and land softly,” Gayer said.
The emergency and non-emergency 24/7 text line for UNLPD is 402-472-5552